Chinese Vice Premier Huang Ju, a powerful member of the ruling Communist Party of China, died of illness early Saturday. He was 69.

It is believed that Huang suffered from prostrate cancer. Last month, the government had denied reports that Huang died.

An obituary issued by the CPC and the government described Huang 'an excellent member of the CPC, a long-tested and faithful communist fighter and an outstanding leader of the party and the state.'

Huang Ju, native of Jiashan, Zhejiang Province, joined the CPC in 1966 and graduated from the Electrical Engineering Department of Qinghua University in Beijing.

From 1995 to 2002, he served as member of the CPC central committee's political Bureau and secretary of the CPC Shanghai municipal committee.

In November 2002, he was elected member of the standing committee of the political bureau of the CPC central committee at the first plenary session of the 16th CPC National Congress.

Huang was approved as vice-premier of the State council at the 7th plenary meeting of the first session of the 10th National People's Congress in March, 2003.